Optical sources employing self-seeding and modulation averaging

Abstract

An array reflector comprising a waveguide and a high reflectivity mirror is disclosed. The waveguide has an input end and a reflective end. The high reflectivity mirror is disposed at the reflective end. The array reflector also includes n−1 mirrors arrayed along the length of the waveguide, wherein n is an integer greater than two.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical source comprising,
 an optical gain element; 
 a segment of optical fiber having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to said optical gain element; 
 a wavelength-division multiplexing filter having a filter-common port and a multiplicity of wavelength-specific optical ports, said second end of said segment of optical fiber being coupled to at least one of said wavelength-specific optical ports; 
 an optical coupler having at least one working port, one output port and a coupler-common port coupled to said filter-common port; and 
 an optical-signal modulation-averaging reflector optically coupled to said working port; said optical-signal modulation averaging reflector consisting of passive optical components. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical source of  claim 1 , wherein said optical gain element is a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier. 
     
     
       3. The optical source of  claim 1 , wherein said optical gain element is a Fabry-Perot laser. 
     
     
       4. The optical source of  claim 1 , wherein said optical-signal modulation-averaging reflector comprises a first optical waveguide and an array of second optical waveguide segments, each of said second optical waveguide segments forming a closed loop and each of said second optical waveguide segments being coupled exactly once to said first optical waveguide; wherein said first optical waveguide is terminated with an optical mirror having a reflectivity value close to unity. 
     
     
       5. The optical source of  claim 1 , wherein said passive optical components comprise a central fiber, a plurality of fiber rings coupled to said central fiber, and a high reflectivity mirror at one end of said central fiber.